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Involve Newsletter

Spring 2019

We're launching our first ever Volunteer Strategy!

We love that you volunteer for us. You make things happen. You offer support. You share your knowledge. You lend us your expertise.

We want to make sure that everyone who volunteers for us, no matter what role or how long they spend doing it, enjoys the time they give to Diabetes UK.

That’s why in June we’ll be launching our first ever volunteer strategy.

It will set out what we want to achieve with volunteering and how we will make sure everyone finds it rewarding.

Over the last 18 months, Local Groups and volunteers have told me about the difference they make, and why it’s so important to them. I’ve also heard how sometimes paperwork can make doing the things that matter to you challenging.

I know the feeling. Before becoming Head of Volunteering, I was a volunteer myself. I chaired the Local Group in Sheffield for four years, was a volunteer speaker and also helped at Know Your Risk events.

I know how fulfilling it is to be a Diabetes UK volunteer. I also know it’s not always as simple as it should be.

Andy Broomhead, Head of Volunteering

So, as the year goes on we’ll be making some changes. They won’t all come at once but we hope they will mean you get even more out of volunteering. Here’s just a couple of things to look forward to.

We’re creating new ways to volunteer

Up in Cumbria our befriending volunteers are making sure no one faces diabetes alone. And we’re giving people the power to pick a project - our new taskforce volunteers in Liverpool have been making the city’s gyms diabetes friendly. You can find out what new volunteering opportunities are available in your area by getting in touch with your local volunteering team.

Online training

From June we’ll have information relevant to your volunteer role in a new online training area. You’ll also find refresher training segments and up-to-date resources on diabetes – all available for you to look at when it suits you.

We also want to know what you think. Email volunteering@diabetes.org.uk to tell us what parts of volunteering you love and what parts are frustrating.

Updates

Volunteer Spotlight

“Volunteering has helped me develop skills I didn’t know I had. I’ve made lots of new friends and it’s good to feel like you’ve made an impact.”

Since she started volunteering in 2010, Sandra has gone on to set up a network of local support groups, speak about her own experience of living with Type 1, help to improve services locally and raise awareness of diabetes in the South West.

Volunteer at Type 1 Family Weekender

Type 1 Family Weekenders offer a unique three-day experience for children and young people to enjoy activities away from their parents, often for the first time, in a safe and fun environment.

Join us as a Type 1 Event volunteer means you’ll be helping children, young people and their families get the most out of the event. They’ll leave feeling supported, more confident with their diabetes management, having made friends and had fun.

To find out about what it’s really like to volunteer, hear from Olivia, an experienced volunteer.

Involve is our newsletter for volunteers, keeping you up to date with everything that is happening at Diabetes UK, and the great work our volunteers are doing.

Subscribe to Involve

Involve is sent out by email. If you are a volunteer with Diabetes UK and you have not received a copy, or you are thinking about volunteering with Diabetes UK and want to stay up to date with our current opportunities, please email volunteering@diabetes.org.uk.

Tell us your stories

If you would like to contribute to the next issue of Involve, we’d love to hear from you. Let us know what you’ve been up to and what you love about volunteering with us. You can send us your text and photos online, through the Your Stories form, or email us – volunteering@diabetes.org.uk.